Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that they are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has found that additional evidence was added to the claims file since the April 2016 SOC and requires remand for further action, including obtaining any outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, left knee disability, back disability, and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy have been granted service connection. The Veteran's depression has been remanded for further examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, GERD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and elevated cholesterol. The remaining issues were remanded.,The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability, left foot disability, right lower extremity circulatory disability, left lower extremity circulatory disability, and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization forms for Brick Hospital, Ocean Medical Center, and Dr. Chulie.

The Board has decided to remand both the neck disability and left knee disability claims due to new evidence indicating worsening of symptoms, including neurological abnormalities. The Veteran's statements about difficulty swallowing related to his neck surgery have also been considered.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and instability have been granted initial ratings, with the arthritis receiving a 60% rating from October 9, 2019.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right knee disability due to incomplete rationale in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating for various ankle, hip, and knee conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his gunshot wound of the right calf and back disability.

The Veteran's right knee internal derangement and osteoarthritis are rated at 20 percent from August 13, 2010 to June 21, 2012.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee laxity is granted effective August 13, 2010. A third 20 percent rating is granted for post-repair residuals of a right knee medial meniscus tear.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disorders are remanded due to the need for additional examination and analysis under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted service connection. The back, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, limitation of flexion, and instability have been granted separate 10 percent ratings throughout the appeal period. A rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted for any condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee disability and instability, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The reasons include inadequate examination reports and failure to address flare-ups during range-of-motion testing.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran's sinus condition is not service-connected, but his right knee degenerative joint disease is granted as aggravated by a pre-existing injury during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, finding it at least as likely as not related to an injury sustained during military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back and left knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current conditions and her military service.